Soft-tread horseshoe.



Uwrrnn STATES ATFNT FFICE.

SOFT=TREAD HORSESHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 670,209, dated March19, 1901.

Application filed August 20, 1900- Serial No. 27,366. (No model.)

To ail whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERVE DYAS DE SAINT OYR, a subject of Her Majestythe Queen of Great Britain, residing in the city and districtofMontreal, Province of Quebec, Canada, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Horseshoes; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, suchas will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to makeand use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in horseshoes of thattype which areprovided with soft or elastic tread surfaces for the purpose ofpreventing the horse from slipping.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved shoe ofthis type which will more effectually prevent a horse from slipping onicy pavements than the ordinary shoe. This end is attained by thecombination of a cushion with a metallic shoe and the employment ofmetallic calks, which are attached to the shoe at the termini of thecushion. The active ends of these calks terminate within the plane ofthe exposed surface of the cushion, so that in the ordinary use of theshoe the cushion will take up the shock and jar by the horse in the actof running; but when the shoe slides on an icy surface the calks arebrought into service by penetrating the ice, and thereby made to assistin preventing the animal from falling.

In the drawings hereto annexed and forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a perspective view of a soft-tread horseshoe embodying myimprovements and showing the same in an inverted position. Fig. 2 is aplan view of the horseshoe in the position shown by Fig. 1 with aportion of the cushion broken away and illustrating the continuousgroove in the metallic shoe. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation takenlongitudinally through the horseshoe and illustrating the same on anenlarged scale.

The same numerals of reference denote like parts in each figure of thedrawings.

The horseshoe proper, 5, may be made of any suitable metal, although Iprefer to manufacture it in a single piece of aluminium. The endportions of said horseshoe at the heel thereof are cut away on the undersurface, as at 6, and said shoe is furthermore provided with acontinuous groove or channel 7, the latter being formed in the undersurface of said shoe. The groove or channel opens at its ends throughthe vertical faces or shoulders 8, which are formed by the notches 6 atthe heel portions of the shoe, and said groove 7 is continuous from onevertical face or shoulder 8 to the other. As shown by Fig. 3 of thedrawings, the continuous groove or channel 7 is of dovetail form incross-section, and the narrow open side of said groove or channel opensthrough the under surface of the shoe at the middle portion thereof allthe way around.

The cushion or tread 9 may be made of any suitable material, preferablyof vulcanized rubber, and its length is equal to that portion of theshoe in which the cross-sectionallydovetailed groove is formed. Theexposed or working surface 10 of this cushion is curved, as shown moreclearly by Fig. 3; but the other face of said cushion is flat, asindicated at 11, the width of this flat face being equal to that face ofthe horseshoe in which the groove 7 is formed. This elastic tread orcushion 9 is furthermore formed with a tongue 12, which extendscontinuously throughout the length of said cushion and which projects asuitable distance beyond the flat face 11 of said cushion. The tongue isdovetail in cross-section to conform to the groove or channel 7 of theshoe, and said tongue extends from the middle portion of the flatsurface 11 on the tread. This tread or cushion is fashioned to conformto the metallic shoe, so as to occupy a flush relation therewith, andthe union between the shoe and the tread is effected by the engagementof the tongue 12 with the curved face of ,the shoe. The termini of thetread or cushion is flush with the shoulders 8 of said shoe, and the endportions of the tongue 12, as well as the under face of the cushion, areexposed through the shoulders of the metallic shoe.

13 indicates the metallic calks, which may be made of steel or any othermaterial suitable for the purpose, each calk having a pointed or taperedend 14. The calks are fastened to the notched end portions 6 of the shoein any suitable way, and an essential feature of my invention consistsin locating these calks in such juxtaposition to the shoulders 8 and tothe termini of the dovetail groove 7 that said calks will engage withthe terminal portions of the cushion 9, whereby the calks prevent thespread and endwise movement of the tread under abnormal conditions. Thepointed ends 14 of the calks terminate within and above the activesurfaces of the cushion, as shown more clearly by Fig. 3, so as topermit the cushion to remain in service under ordinary conditions; butwhen the shoe slides on an icy surface and said shoe assumes an inclinedposition, as when the horse is in the act of falling, the calks areadapted to engage with the slippery surface and enable the animal tomaintain itself in an upright position.

I claim- 1. As a new article of manufacture, a softtread horseshoecomprising a channeled metallic shoe, a cushion having a tongueconnection therewith, and separate pointed calks attached to the shoe inengagement with the terminal portions of the cushion, as and for thepurposes set forth.

2. As a new article of man ufactnre, a softtread horseshoe comprising achanneled metallic shoe, a cushion provided with a tongue and unitedthereby to said shoe, and the pointed calk-pins attached to the shoe atthe heel portions thereof and in juxtaposition to the terminal portionsof the cushion, the pointed ends of said calk-pins terminating withinthe active face of the cushion, as and for the purposes set forth.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a softtread horseshoe comprising ametallic shoe having the notched heel portions forming shoulders andalso provided with the continuous dovetail channel which opens at itsends through said shoulders and the shoe, a cushion having a tongue andapplied to the shoe for said tongue to fit the channel, and separatepointed calks fast with the notched heel portions of the shoe anddisposed in contact with the terminal portions of the cushion,substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twoWitnesses.

HERVE DYAS DE SAINT OYR.

Witnesses:

J. A. MARION, F. G. J. ONEILL.

